1. The second annual AZCentral.com Food & Wine Experience will take place Friday through Sunday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (map) in Scottsdale. Parking will be free.
2. All events are 21-and-over. No children or strollers are allowed.
3. The main event is the Grand Tasting, which runs 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $90 per day ($150 for both) and include unlimited samples from 44-plus Valley restaurants; wine, craft beer, and spirits tastings; cooking demonstrations; and seminars.
4. Festival headliner chef Mario Batali will host lunch and dinner events, as well as a book-signing, Saturday. All are sold out.
5. Chefs appearing on cooking stages: Becca Carlson (1:15 p.m.), Robert McGrath (1:45), Jason McGrath (2:15), and Tom Fraker (2:45) on Saturday; Alex Stratta (1:15), Scott Conant (1:45), Chuck Wiley (2:15), and Jacques Qualin (3:15) on Sunday.
